Claims by Rebel Wilson that a young Australian actress was sexually harassed by a producer but then hid it to better her career are 'malicious concoctions', a Sydney court has heard on the first day of a defamation case against the Hollywood star.
In 2024 and 2025, Wilson posted on Instagram that Charlotte MacInnes - who stars in Wilson's film The Deb - had felt 'uncomfortable' after sharing a bath with one of its female producers.
The Pitch Perfect star claimed MacInnes had retracted a complaint - which MacInnes denies making - in exchange for a major theatre role and a record deal.
MacInnes says the allegations have tarnished her reputation for integrity and honesty, and is seeking damages.
Lawyers for MacInnes have said she made no complaint to Wilson about the bath incident but that Wilson later used it as 'leverage' in a dispute with producers about the film's budget and contracts.
On the first day of the case, the court saw a series of private texts between Wilson, the producer Amanda Ghost, and MacInnes as well as detailed emails about the bath and alleged sexual harassment.
The incident happened on 5 September 2023 when MacInnes and Ghost went for a late afternoon swim at Bondi Beach.
Ghost had an allergic reaction to the water, known as cold urticaria, breaking out in red welts and shaking uncontrollably, the court heard.
The pair went back to Ghost's beachside apartment with MacInnes running a hot bath for Ghost, who had got into a shower to warm up.
Both later got into the bath – described by MacInnes' legal team as 'oversized' – wearing their swimsuits. Lawyers argued that they were 'not even touching at all.'
They 'had hot drinks with Ghost's assistant' present, according to the court.
The next day, Wilson spoke to MacInnes who told her she felt uncomfortable about the bath incident, according to Wilson, who then raised it with Ghost.
However, when Wilson discussed it with MacInnes after a couple of days, the young actress said this was not what she had said.
A text message sent by Wilson to the producer Ghost read: 'Charlotte says all good. She just meant 'it was a bizarre situation' not that she personally felt uncomfortable.'
That night, they all attended a Boy George concert, the court heard.
Chrysanthou SC argued that the claims of harassment raised by Wilson were 'completely false, fantasy, malicious concoctions'.
However, Wilson's lawyer, Daurid Sibtain, contended that MacInnes had lied to progress her career, with no harm done to her reputation, backed by subsequent successes in theatre and music.
The trial, which began on Monday, is expected to continue for nine days.
